Where do they hide? They avoid light and are most commonly found in dark locations such as basements, attics and closets. Within these locations, moths can be found in the folds of fabrics or hiding in corners.
Spray them with a solution of a couple of drops of ordinary dish detergent in a bottle of water. The moths will fall down and drown. In an environment where a wet spray can't be used (such as a library), use an electric flyswatter or other suitable Fly-killing device - Wikipedia, or a powerful hand-held vacuum cleaner.
Clothes Moths
They are naturally drawn to dark spaces like attics, closets, and wardrobes where the caterpillars feed on natural fibers like silk, linen, wool, or fur. They can be found hiding in the corners or in folds of fabrics.
If you sleep with the TV or lights on, there's a good chance that non-pestilent moths will flutter into your bedroom and bother you while you try to sleep. This can be pretty unsettling, especially if you are just drifting off and a moth decides to land on your nose!
For an instant kill, cleaning containers using a solution of hot soapy water will instantly kill Pantry Moth Eggs. Additionally, freezing items will kill eggs and larvae, although you must wait 72 hours for this method to be effective.
Try leaving an outside or porch light on after dark, and look for moths on lighted windows or lit walls and fences. Low-energy bulbs attract moths and are better for the environment.
Generally, no. Moths are not dangerous in your home. Most moths that fly into houses are either Clothes and Carpet Moths, common millers, or Pantry Moths. None of these types of moths are toxic, have stingers, or can cause harm to people in general.
Cedar oil is strong and effective and the moths don't like it! Other good essential oils to repel moths include lavender, rosemary, lemon, bergamot, sage, and mint.
You are looking for white webbing (a bit like messed up cobwebs) and frass and you may even find clothes moth larvae. Inspect carpets, especially round the edges, check rugs including the undersides and under bits of furniture.
But even the sight of a moth isn't a guarantee of infestation. Jason Dombroskie, manager at the Cornell University Insect Collection and the university's Insect Diagnostic Lab, told us in an interview that most moths people find in the home are actually feeding on plants.
Set up moth traps: A combination of flypaper and fish oil will attract and kill them. You can hang these up anywhere in the home. Swap your clothes hangers for cedar ones: Moths do not like the smell and will be repelled from eating your clothes.
The males of these species may often be seen flying at speed, low down over the tops of vegetation trying to locate a recently emerged nocturnal female hidden in the undergrowth. Many moths may also be seen feeding at flower heads during the day.
You can also identify an infestation by the presence of dead moths, larval casings, and holes in garments. A few common bedroom locations where moths are likely to hide include master closets, bins stored under the bed, clothing chests, or other dark, undisturbed places where natural fabrics are stored.
Behavior – Butterflies are active during the day, whereas most species of moths are active at night, or during dawn and dusk. But this is not always the case!
Lavender — Lavender is a widely-loved moth repellent for good reason. Its floral scent is delightful to humans but repulsive to moths. Our 'Protect Me' Scent Bags can be placed in closets and drawers to protect your garments. Plus, they impart a lovely fragrance to all surrounding clothes.
An easy and time-honored method of drawing them out of hiding is to take advantage of their night-time instincts for navigating darkness by seeking out bright lights (historically, the moon and stars).
Use Moth Traps for Adults
For adult Clothes Moths, Moth Traps are very effective. Moth Traps are great because they can catch many moths at once. Plus, evasive species of moths like Clothes Moths are hard to catch with your bare hands or even a net. This is because they are almost always hiding in dark crevices.
Clothes moths live (and lay their eggs) in wardrobes, chests of drawers, carpets, rugs, tapestries, soft furnishings, cotton bedding and clothes.
Create an herb mix: Herbs are great moth repellants, as they don't like the smell. Fill a plastic bag with herbs — lavender, rosemary, cloves, etc. — and hang the bag anywhere you want moths to avoid. Or, dilute your essential oils to spray on your clothes and belongings.
It's hard to pinpoint how these things get indoors in the first place, but they do not go away on their own, says Suiter. If you don't want moth hanky-panky in your pantry (translation: lots of babies!), it's time to do some sleuthing. Here's how to get rid of these common pests.